When should I start preparing for college admission?

You should start preparing in freshman year of high school. This includes focusing on grades, exploring extracurricular activities, and beginning to think about your interests and potential career paths.

What are the most important college admission deadlines?

Key deadlines include: Early Decision/Early Action (November 1-15), Regular Decision (January 1-15), FAFSA opens (October 1), and CSS Profile deadline (varies by school). Our timeline tracker helps you never miss a deadline.

How many college admission tasks are there?

There are 374+ tasks across all four years of high school, including academic preparation, standardized testing, extracurricular activities, college research, applications, and financial aid.

What is included in the admission timeline?

The timeline includes tasks for: A-G requirements tracking, standardized test prep (SAT/ACT/AP), college research and visits, application essays, letters of recommendation, financial aid (FAFSA/CSS), and scholarship applications.

Try diverse activities - Freshman Year College Admission

Overview

Freshman year is your time to explore! Trying different activities helps you discover what you genuinely enjoy and where you might want to focus later.

Why Exploration Matters

You might discover unexpected passions
You'll learn what you DON'T like (also valuable!)
You'll meet different groups of people
You'll build diverse skills

Types of Activities to Try

Academic & Intellectual

Debate, Model UN, Science Olympiad
Math League, Academic Decathlon
Robotics, Coding clubs

Arts & Creative

Drama, choir, band, orchestra
Art club, photography
Creative writing, journalism

Service & Community

Key Club, Interact, community service clubs
Environmental clubs
Tutoring or mentoring programs

Sports & Athletics

Team sports (JV is great for freshmen!)
Individual sports (tennis, swimming, track)
Intramural or club sports

Special Interest

Cultural clubs
Gaming or esports
Hobby-based clubs

How Many to Try?

Sign up for 5-10 clubs at the club fair
Attend a few meetings of each
By end of first semester, narrow to 3-5 you'll commit to

Encouraging Reminder

It's okay to quit activities that don't fit! This is exploration, not commitment.

Overview

Freshman year is your time to explore! Trying different activities helps you discover what you genuinely enjoy and where you might want to focus later.

Why Exploration Matters

You might discover unexpected passions
You'll learn what you DON'T like (also valuable!)
You'll meet different groups of people
You'll build diverse skills

Types of Activities to Try

Academic & Intellectual

Debate, Model UN, Science Olympiad
Math League, Academic Decathlon
Robotics, Coding clubs

Arts & Creative

Drama, choir, band, orchestra
Art club, photography
Creative writing, journalism

Service & Community

Key Club, Interact, community service clubs
Environmental clubs
Tutoring or mentoring programs

Sports & Athletics

Team sports (JV is great for freshmen!)
Individual sports (tennis, swimming, track)
Intramural or club sports

Special Interest

Cultural clubs
Gaming or esports
Hobby-based clubs

How Many to Try?

Sign up for 5-10 clubs at the club fair
Attend a few meetings of each
By end of first semester, narrow to 3-5 you'll commit to

Encouraging Reminder

It's okay to quit activities that don't fit! This is exploration, not commitment.

Try diverse activities

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Why Exploration Matters

Types of Activities to Try

Academic & Intellectual

Arts & Creative

Service & Community

Sports & Athletics

Special Interest

How Many to Try?

Encouraging Reminder

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks

Try diverse activities

Step-by-Step Guide

Overview

Why Exploration Matters

Types of Activities to Try

Academic & Intellectual

Arts & Creative

Service & Community

Sports & Athletics

Special Interest

How Many to Try?

Encouraging Reminder

Task Details

Track Your Progress

Related Tasks